Discover the fairytale landscapes of Val Pusteria and Lake Braies in Italy

Countless things to do in the Dolomites

Nestled amongst the green meadows of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Reserve and the majestic mountains of the Dolomites (UNESCO World Heritage Site), lies a Valley, with its enchanted lake: Lake Braies (or Pragser Wildsee). Braies/Prags is situated 1213 m above sea level and has a total of about 700 inhabitants in total scattered through its three districts of Outer Braies, Inner Braies and St. Veit. Pure paradise reigns supreme: peace, quiet and unspoilt nature. Up here you can easily believe that you are totally cut off from the rest of the world. And yet the town centres of Dobbiaco/Toblach, San Candido/Innichen and Brunico/Bruneck are just 10 to 20 minutes away.

Braies Valley and Lake Braies provide the stunning locations for the popular German series “Close to the Heavens” which is based on the Rosamunde Pilcher novels about a forest ranger.

Places worth-seeing near Braies/Prags:

  • Lake Braies/Pragser Wildsee
    Some people describe it as romantic, others as mystic and enchanting or simply unique and beautiful. The lake Braies is surrounded by the forests of the magnificent massif of the Croda del Becco/Seekofel mountain (2,810 metres). Look out for the chapel!
  • Prato Piazza/Platzwiese
    A high-mountain plateau in the Dolomites, surrounded by the peaks of the Croda Rossa d'Ampezzo/Hohe Gaisl, Tre Cime di Lavaredo/Drei Zinnen, Tofane and Monte Cristallo. During the winter, this area is used as training ground for cross-country skiing.
  • 'Viktor Wolf Edler von Glanvell'
    The theme path is family-friendly and well marked from Schmieden to the Lake Braies/Prags. Along the trail, there are numerous information panels, which reflect the life of Viktor Wolf Edler von Glanvell. As a 14-year-old, during the summer of 1885, he visited the Prags/Braies Valley for the first time. At 18 years of age, he published his first ‘Guide to the Prags/Braies Dolomites’. During his stay in the Prags/Braies valley, Victor Wolf Edler von Glanvell conquered more than 60 summits, ridges and cliffs, amongst others the Seekofel/ Croda del Becco North Entry and the Herrsteinturm/ Torre del Signore (South Entry). Both were first ascents. Glanvell has his resting place in Prags/Braies.
  • Alpe Pragas
    Check out how to make jams, syrups and other delicacies out of fruit! The products are popular due to their excellent taste, which comes from the high altitude and fragrant mountain air.

Holidays of a lifetime in the Upper Val Pusteria / Hoch-Pustertal: Dolomites, Mountain Lakes and Nature Reserves

The Upper Val Pusteria / Hoch-Pustertal is a much-loved fairytale holiday destination: in winter the pristine skiing pistes provide maximum temptation, as will the perfect terrain for cross-country skiing and the endless slopes covered in deep pure snow. In summer it’s the mountains that provide the top draw with their myriad opportunities for hiking, climbing and biking. The definitive characteristics of the Upper Val Pusteria / Hoch-Pustertalare the mountain peaks of the Sextener and Lienzer Dolomites interspersed with mountain lakes like Lake Braies / Prags, Lake Anterselva / Antholz, Lake Dobiacco / Toblach and Lake Misurina.

This valley offers idyllic viewpoints and unspoilt nature. You can experience rustic traditional handicrafts and sweetly-scented mountain meadows in their multitudinous shades of green and with a rich variety of flora, thick pine forests and spicy mountain air.